Jeremy Halcrow investigates the extraordinary impact of Rick Warren's Purpose Driven plans on Sydney Anglicans.
Walk into St Hilda's, out of the biting winds sweeping up Katoomba Street from the Jamison Valley, and you find yourself in a space full of warmth and life.
The young people of St Hilda's have taken it upon themselves to decorate the inside of the church. A giant silver cross made of hundreds of CDs shimmers across the back wall in a peacock-display of holographic rainbow colours. A sea of mobiles hang from the ceiling " some orange human shapes, some blue question marks " each signifying an element from the 40 Days of Purpose program that the church has been working through.
Ray Robinson, rector of St Hilda's, says it is this enthusiasm generated throughout his congregation that has made him such a keen advocate of 40 Days of Purpose. In a matter of weeks, the number of home groups in the parish has nearly doubled " from four to seven.
Among those to join a home group at Katoomba was twenty-something Rachel Olsen.
"When I found out the group was all girls I thought we would just end up gossiping, but it hasn't been like that all," she says, "It has been so encouraging to hear how people are growing in their faith."
But does this level of enthusiasm have a lasting impact?
Ray Robinson admits that when he was first approach to run the program at his previous parish in Chatswood, he was "hesitant about something coming out of America'.
"But then I saw people's lives changed. The program helped people open themselves to hearing God speaking to them through his Word."
The most significant long-term impact at Chatswood was that it forced home-groups to look outside themselves.
"That was the marked difference at Chatswood, people took on service ministries," he says. "For example we had home groups volunteering to do supper after church."
The Rev Richard James ran the program late last year at Forestville and, like Ray Robinson, found the level of enthusiasm it generated remarkable.
"There were clear job descriptions, and clear tasks for many different groups to fulfil which had the effect of enabling me to get many people involved in ministry, or more than usual at least, which in itself added to the excitement and anticipation."
He adds that Rick Warren"s "Five Purposes' were so memorable that he intends to keep using them.
"When it comes to knowing the purpose and mission of a church, this is a great way to present a clearly articulated purpose and vision for the church, which is not always an easy thing for the average minister to do."
Collaboration
In the nearly quarter of a century that Neil Emerson has been rector of Holy Trinity, Wentworth Falls, he has seen nothing like it. This month, all the Anglican churches from the villages strung out over 50km across the top of the Blue Mountains are running the 40 Days program and they hope it will revolutionise ministry in the region.
It is the first time in living memory that Lawson, Wentworth Falls, Leura, Katoomba and Blackheath have collaborated in ministry. The 40 Days will finish on September 10 with a celebration event involving all five parishes at Katoomba Primary School.
"We are very parochial up here," says Mr Emerson. "The geography doesn't make it easy to work together, but we hope 40 Days of Purpose will change that."
Ray Robinson of St Hilda's, Katoomba agrees. "I'm really excited about the potential for collaboration in other areas of ministry," he says. "I think we will certainly see the fruits in future."
Already some older members of the traditional services at St Alban's, Leura and Holy Trinity Wentworth Falls have come together to join their first Bible study group.
The Rev Greg Olliffe, rector of Leura, also says that attendance at Leura's Sunday Night prayer meeting has doubled since they began the 40 Days program. "I guess people have decided they can tape their favourite Sunday night TV program and watch it later, while getting together to pray is more important."
Ray Partington, who is helping organise the program at Wentworth Falls, said he's noticed how his fellow lay people are seeing the parish's activities, such as their Op Shop, in a new light. "It is helping us hone up on why we are involved in good works " it is a reminder that our main purpose in being in relationship with Christ."
Highlights of the 40 Days program include a "ministry showcase' held at each parish.
"It's really a recruitment exercise," said Neil Emerson, "where we encourage people to serve God in the church through everything from lawnmowing to youth ministry."
The Rev Tim Duke, assistant minister at Wentworth Falls, said he hoped 40 Days of Purpose would see much-needed volunteers recruited to help him in schools Scripture.
"The critiques I have read about 40 Days are overstated," Mr Duke said. "The standard critiques I have encountered " lack of emphasis on the cross, apparent Pelagian tendencies " could just as easily be aimed at the Epistle of James."
"Rick Warren uses a typically American style of presenting the Bible: he selects verses to act as slogans for key biblical themes. He doesn't spend as much time "proving' his ideas as he does giving practical applications " and this is quite refreshing! In most cases he comes to the same conclusions we [in Sydney Diocese] would."
A great tool with flaws
In fact, the 40 Days Program Bible Study being used by the Blue Mountains churches has a long Sydney pedigree. Born at Central Coast Evangelical Church, developed at Christ Church Springwood and finally matured by Greg Olliffe at Leura.
"I just localised the Bible Study," says Mr Olliffe, "by asking specific questions that were relevant to us."
No doubt some church leaders will prefer more in depth material than Rick Warren provides, however others like Ray Robinson have found that even Warren's material can be too much for those people who struggle with literacy.
"The home group leaders need to be sensitive to the people coming and adjust accordingly," he said.
"No tool is perfect but there are some excellent things about the 40 Days program itself that we shouldn't abandon."
He says the suite of resources written by Rick Warren provides an intensity of focus on key biblical ideas that doesn't happen when moving through a normal preaching program. "The multi-pronged strategy of tackling an issue at church, in a Bible study and at home is brilliant educationally, because it gives people the space and time they need to reflect on an issue and process it."
Rick Warren's model of challenging church members to host home groups even if they have little experience will make some nervous about what happens in such home groups. However, Ray Robinson sees it as a way to grow home groups and nurture Bible study leaders.
"Warren controls the teaching via video input and he trusts God to work in people's lives," he says.
"But you do need to keep in touch with your leaders and help them learn the discernment and skills they need."
That said, Mr Robinson is very aware of the criticisms of Warren's material. "People have said to me the program doesn't focus enough on the cross. Well, I just have to preach more on the cross," he said.
For Forestville's Richard James this is an important point. "As a preacher I still had complete freedom to preach whatever I wanted to and so in that respect I was not bound. However, overall, it is my recommendation you follow the program closely and see the results that follow."
Ray Robinson agrees, adding that pastors shouldn't baby church members. "I prefer to keep using the program and talk through any problems we may encounter along the way," he said.
Indeed, as you meet members of these Blue Mountains churches and ask them "How is 40 Days going?', invariably the answer is: "It's very challenging isn't it?'
"The bottom line," concludes Mr Robinson, "is that people are reading the Bible everyday and reflecting on the key issues of life " how can we be critical of that? What's more they are excited about what is happening in their church.
"We should make the most of ideas God has chosen to bless."
